CLARE HAD to dig deep and depend on extra-time at Cusack Park, Ennis last evening, to reach the Munster decider and set themselves up for a tilt at a third provincial in a row, against Tipperary. Limerick trailed 1-14 to 0-11 but two late goals, one from a penalty by Ronan Lynch and another from play by centre back Barry O’Connell, threw them a lifeline. At half-time dominant Clare led 1-8 to 0-6, with top scorer Bobby Duggan also their goal-scorer in the sixth minute. But in extra-time Clare battled to eke out a two-point win.

Defeated Cork in the first round before losing an extra time thriller to Waterford on a scoreline of 4-17 to 3-15 at Walsh Park Waterford.

Defeated Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford to win the Munster title before losing to Galway after extra time in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.

Number of Munster Minor Hurling titles

5

4

Last Munster Minor Hurling Title

1984

2011

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Record since 2000

Played – 26
Won – 9
Lost – 15
Drawn – 2

Played – 35
Won – 17
Lost – 17
Drawn – 1

Last meeting in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship

June 25th 2010 at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick – Clare 1-17 Limerick 2-12 (Munster Semi-Final) – Niall Arthur pointed 8 frees to help Clare to a two point victory over a Limerick team inspired by Declan Hannon (0-6) and Shane Dowling (1-2)

MUNSTER GAA HURLING MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

First Round

Wednesday May 2nd

@ Cusack Park Ennis Waterford 1-20 Clare 3-13

@ Pairc Ui Chaoimh Limerick 0-16 Cork 1-12

@ Semple Stadium Thurles Tipperary 6-21 Kerry 0-11

Semi-Final Play-off 1

Saturday May 5th

@ Austin Stack Park Tralee Cork 6-22 Kerry 1-4

Semi-Final Play-off 2

Thursday May 10th

@ Cusack Park Ennis Clare 0-18 Cork 1-9

Semi-Finals

Wednesday June 27th

@ Semple Stadium Thurles Tipperary v Waterford @ 7:30pm

Friday June 29th

@ Cusack Park Ennis Limerick v Clare @ 7:30pm

Final

Sunday July 15th

Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Useful Information

In the last 3 seasons, neither Clare or Waterford have lost any matches to Cork, Tipperary, Limerick or Kerry – their only defeats coming in direct clashes against each other.

Clare are the defending Munster Minor Hurling Champions following a 1-20 to 3-9 victory over Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Waterford have lost just 2 of their last 11 matches in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship, both losses coming to Clare in the 2010 and 2011 Munster Finals.

There is no name on the Munster Minor Hurling Cup. The cup itself was presented by T.W.A. Shannon Airport in 1946.

All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

In the Minor Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Tipperary and Cork are tied for second in the charts with 18 titles each behind Kilkenny’s 20 titles. Limerick have 3 titles (1940, 1958, 1984), Waterford have won 2 titles (1929, 1948) while Clare’s only title to date came in 1997.

Of the last 13 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Finals played, the Irish Press Cup has only returned to Munster on 3 occasions – Cork (2001) and Tipperary (2006 and 2007). Of the other 10 titles since 1999, Galway have 6 and Kilkenny have captured 4.